Campaign 2000 welcomed the August 21 release of Opportunity for All: Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy but also expressed disappointment that the strategy’s long-term goal of reducing poverty by 50% by 2030 means another generation of children – approximately 600,000 – will grow up in poverty. The Campaign 2000 coalition will continue to call for greater investments to accelerate reductions in poverty given 4.8 million Canadians suffer poverty today.

Read the full response from Campaign 2000.

On August 3, Campaign 2000 submitted its priorities for the 2019 federal budget. According to the submission, eradicating poverty, to ensure every person in Canada the opportunity to succeed and live in dignity, is the right thing to do for children and for all of us. Right now, 4.8 million Canadians suffer the indignity, hunger, insecurity, stress and social exclusion of poverty.   Eradicating poverty is undoubtedly essential to promoting Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness as found by the Conference Board of Canada while promoting population health, enhancing social cohesion and enabling fuller social and economic participation of all Canadians.

Learn more about Campaign 2000’s priorities for the 2019 federal budget here.

 

In the lead up to Canada’s first federal Poverty Reduction Strategy, Campaign 2000 reveals a disturbing picture of the magnitude of child poverty in every federal riding. The latest data paint a stark portrait of inequality in Canada with high- and low-income families living in close proximity while divided by wide social and economic gaps that leave too many children hungry, sick and stressed beyond their years.

Troublingly, this report shows that the federal ridings with the highest levels of child and family poverty are home to a higher proportion of Indigenous, racialized and immigrant communities and lone-parent led families. This correlation signals the persistence of discrimination and systemic inequalities that translate to higher unemployment, lower labour market participation rates and higher proportions of renters and people spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

The presence of child and family poverty in every riding in Canada demands strong and decisive federal action through the Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). Clearly, every community, every Member of Parliament and all political parties have a stake in the eradication of poverty.

• Read the Media Release in English and in French
• Read the new report in English Campaign 2000 Riding by Riding Child Poverty Report and in French Campaign2000 Riding by Riding Child Poverty Report
• Check out the infographic summarizing Canada’s child poverty by ridings report.

What is the child poverty rate in your riding?

• Click here to enter your postal code and find your federal electoral district.
• Find the child poverty rate in your riding in this child poverty by ridings datafile sorted in alphabetical order.

Mapping Child Poverty

• Child Poverty Rates Canada Wide:
  • The Rate of Child Poverty, Riding by Riding
  • The Number of Child Poverty, Riding by Riding
  • Ridings with highest child poverty rates
  • Ridings with lowest child poverty rates
• Marginalized communities & child Poverty Rates by Riding:
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Lone-Parent Families
  • Recent Immigrants
  • Visible Minority Population
• The number of children living in poverty in major cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Montreal.

In recognition of National Volunteer Week, Campaign 2000 extends a special thanks to our vital and dedicated volunteers! Volunteers provide leadership, guidance and expertise to all of Campaign 2000’s activities.

Our volunteers help power the anti-poverty movement in Canada by raising public awareness of poverty and its consequences and advocating for social justice from coast to coast to coast. We are privileged to work with volunteers that include parents, youth and children in low income; partner groups; advisors and  steering committee members from across Canada.

Your dedication to the goal of eradicating child and family poverty keeps our network strong, vibrant and effective at building policies and programs supportive of low income children and families. Happy Volunteer Week!

According to Campaign 2000, Budget 2018 makes inroads against poverty and inequality with boosts to Canadians’ incomes, but the gains for parents, women, workers and Indigenous people need to be poverty-proofed and paired with accessible public services in the upcoming Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). We note that the absence of meaningful child care funding is glaring in the context of the commitment to gender equality from this government.

“Budget 2018’s inroads are in the right direction, but with a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy the federal government can truly go the distance for children and their families,” says Anita Khanna, Campaign 2000’s National Coordinator. “With nearly 1 in 5 children in poverty, Canada needs to take the training wheels off in 2019 and roll out the strong investments in poverty eradication that Canadians have awaited for far too long.”

Read our full response. See Canada Child Benefit infographic.

Budget 2018 in the news:
CBC: Budget 2018: Highlights of Bill Morneau’s ‘equality + growth’ budget
Government of Canada: Budget 2018

Blog post by Shannon Udall, MSW Student

Ending child poverty in Canada requires equity for, and the inclusion of, all communities. As Black History Month comes to a close, we must recognize that  Black history in Canada is shaped by discriminatory policies, bias in institutions and anti-Black racism. This history continues into present Canadian culture and public policies. Across Canada, anti-Black racism continues to result in higher rates of poverty experienced by Black children and families.

2016 Census data show that 30.2% of Black children under 18 in Canada live in poverty in comparison with 17% of children under 18 in Canada, overall[1]. This rate rises in Ontario, where 32.8% of Black children live in poverty compared to 18.4% of children under 18 .[2]

We  know that Black children and youth experience drastically higher rates of discipline in the school system[3]. They also represent 37% of apprehended children in care of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, despite only accounting for 8% of the population[4]. Black Canadians are also incarcerated at a disproportionate rate[5] and face discrimination in accessing housing, employment and social services.[6] These systemic factors result in Black Canadians experiencing higher rates of poverty.

Black history month reminds us to remember and acknowledge the passionate work and advocacy of Black communities to organize around these issues and to resist anti-Black racism. It is also a time to amplify the stories of resistance and resilience that have shaped Black Canadian history. Canadians of African descent have been on this land as long as British and French colonists[7]. Despite Canada’s reputation as a refuge for African Americans since the time of the Underground Railroad, Black Canadians have and continue to experience many of the same injustices experienced by Black Americans including slavery, institutional segregation, extreme public violence and housing discrimination[8]. While there has been recent progress from Government, including the Government of Canada’s recognition of the International Decade for People of African Decent and the creation of anti-black racism strategies in the province of Ontario and the city of Toronto, Black communities in Canada still experience high rates of discrimination and injustice.

An important step in moving forward to address these inequalities is the need to collect disaggregated data. The lack of disaggregated data concerning race obscures the extent of anti-Black racism in Canada. All levels of government must commit to collecting disaggregated race- based data to analyze how policies and programs support and fail racialized communities and direct resources to filling the gaps that so many families fall through. The Government must restore, enhance and strengthen Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism (CAPAR) based on community input and respond to growing concerns about racial profiling plaguing Black, Indigenous and racialized families[1].  As Canadians we must recognize ongoing and historical injustices and hold our government and ourselves accountable for ending the policies and beliefs that perpetuate anti-Black racism in Canada. Black communities have survived and thrived in their resistance to anti-Black racism. It’s now Canada’s turn to commit to equity and racial justice.

[1] A Poverty Free Canada Requires Federal Leadership
[2] Data tables, 2016 Census
[3] Canadian Education is Steeped in Anti-Black Racism
[4] Drop in number of Black children placed in care heralded as good start
[5] Statement to the media by the United Nations’ Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, on the conclusion of its official visit to Canada, 17-21 October 2016
[6] City of Toronto-funded ads confront anti-black racism
[7] Anti-Black Racism in Canada – A Historical Perspective
[8] Canadian Education is Steeped in Anti-Black Racism

In a newly published Op Ed, Campaign 2000 and partners write about how sitting politicians’ responses to sexual misconduct allegations must move beyond shock and disgust. We call for them to use their power to take concrete action through gender responsive budgeting and investments in services for women, girls and LGTBTQ people in low income. Without concrete action by these politicians, their reactions will ring hollow and the momentum and potential to stamp out sexual harassment that has been created by #MeToo will be squandered.

Leaders Who Truly Support #MeToo Should Prove It At Budget Time

As Canada’s 150th year since confederation closes, the federal government must seize the opportunity to usher in a new poverty-free era, according to Campaign 2000’s 2017 report card on child and family poverty.  The new report calls for Canada’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy to outline a new social contract that responds to the needs of today’s families and lifts individuals and families out of poverty.

The 2017 national report card, “A Poverty-Free Canada Requires Federal Leadership” provides a current snapshot of the depth and breadth of poverty among children and families, outlines how poverty stalls children’s progress and potential and proposes practical policy solutions. In the report, Campaign 2000 recognizes the government’s actions to date to improve income security and anticipates the release of the National Housing Strategy.

On the same day, seven Campaign 2000 provincial partners will release their annual report cards on child and family poverty.  Click on the following links to read and download the new report cards and other materials as they become available:

Campaign 2000 National Report Card on Child and Family Poverty, 2017 in English and French.

Read the C2000 National Media release Nov 21 2017 and French C2000 National Media Release,2017  for our analysis and comments of the new national report card on child and family poverty 2017.

National Campaign 2000 sharable Infographic, 2017

BC Child Poverty Report Card 2017 and visit: http://still1in5.ca/

Alberta Child Poverty Report Card 2017 (just released)

Sask Report Card on Child Poverty 2017

Manitoba Child and Family Report 2017

Ontario Report Card on Child and Family Poverty, 2017, in English and French

Nova Scotia Report Card on Child and Family Poverty 2017

New Brunswick Report Card on Child and Family Poverty 2017

PEI Report Card on Child and Family Poverty 2017

Twitter: @Campaign2000

Facebook: facebook.com/Campaign2000/

2017 National Report Card in the news:

Toronto Star:
Federal housing strategy could help reduce child poverty rates
Ontario urged to make ending child poverty an election issue

Globe and Mail:
Liberal government urged to be more aggressive in tackling poverty

 

Campaign 2000 will release its annual national Report Card on Child and Family Poverty on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at a Joint Media Conference in Ottawa.

Prior to the Ottawa media conference, Campaign 2000 will present its report card findings to MPs and Senators at a Breakfast event on Parliament Hill.

The national report release is coordinated with several Campaign 2000 partners releasing provincial report cards in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Alberta will be releasing its provincial report card shortly after Nov. 21.

Read the Media Advisory in English and French.

Campaign 2000 will release its 2017 annual Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada on Tuesday November 21 in Ottawa. The report marks 28 years since the unanimous, all-party House of Commons’ Resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000, and eight years since the House of Commons voted “to develop an immediate plan to end poverty for all in Canada.”

The national release will take place on Parliament Hill at a Media Conference, following a breakfast event for MPs and Senators hosted by the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus. We are proud to work with Bread Not Stones of the United Church of Canada and Citizens for Public Justice to present the event, called “Taking Action to End Child & Family Poverty, a Breakfast on the Hill for MPs and Senators” in order to mark the UN’s Universal Children’s Day.

The national report card will be released in conjunction with several provincial report cards by partners in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Alberta’s report card will be released shortly after Nov. 21st. Provincial reports and media contact information will be provided on our website on November 21st.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming days.